View as a webpage  /  Share

Montgomery County
Grant Opportunities Newsletter

November 13, 2024

The Montgomery County Grant Opportunities Newsletter provides grant seeking stakeholders with a concrete schedule of new, currently open, and soon to be launched grant programs as well as status updates for closed grant programs.  The newsletter also highlights the Office of Grants Management (OGM) events, non-County grant opportunities, and other events/news items of interest to grant seeking stakeholders.  For a long-term projection of County grant programs, download the most up-to-date version of the FY25 Grant Program Forecast.

New this Week and Currently Open

• FY25 Low and Middle Income (LMI) Electrification Grant Program: Opened November 8, 2024 and closes November 21, 2024. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is soliciting grant applications from nonprofits for one competitively selected federally funded subgrantee to upgrade one or more low-income communities with energy-efficient electric appliances, heating, and hot water systems. The goal of the grant project is to complete fuel-switching activities in at least 30 single-family units or at least 1 multifamily building serving 15 units. The single award will total roughly $1.8 million. FY25 LMI Electrification is a multi-stage application with both stage application tasks detailed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Status of Closed, but not Awarded, Grant Programs

• FY25 Nonprofit Security Grant Program: The application window closed on Monday, October 28, 2024 with 121 applications totaling roughly $1.65 million received. A Review Committee is currently evaluating and scoring application with goal of finishing by the end of November.

• FY25 EquiCare - Subsidy Seats Grant Program: The application window closed on Monday, September 30, 2024. OGM received 21 applications totaling roughly $4.6 million. Scoring is complete and award recommendations are being developed.

• FY24 Cost Sharing Capital Grants (CSCG): State Matched applications, both Arts and Non-Arts have been reviewed, scored, and results posted at the link above. Non-State Matched CSCG are still pending review due to similar problems with the FY24 Community Grants program and a shortage of available reviewers.  OGM is working with other County stakeholders to identify and recruit reviewers for the remaining applications for this grant program.

• FY24 Community Project Fund (CPF) Q3/Q4: Award decisions will be distributed by November 15, Recipients will be given the opportunity to rescope their proposals to fit the actual award timeline with considerable flexibility. Non-recipients will have the opportunity to have a feedback session on their application in January of 2025.

• FY23 Nonprofit Technical Assistance and Management Support (NTAMS) Grant Program: OGM sent award letters to selected applicants on Monday October 21, 2024.

Non-County Funding Opportunities (listed newest to oldest posting)

• NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES): 2-step proposal process - Notices of intent due February 14, 2025; Proposals due March 14, 2025. NASA Earth Science Division seeks proposals for projects that apply Earth observations to improve or develop decision-making activities in ecological conservation and management. Award size will be based on project scope. There is an Informational Webinar for potential proposers on November 15, 2024.
• 2025 Community Science (Heat) Partner Awards: Proposals due January 17, 2025; Applicants may submit an optional expression of interest by Friday November 15, 2024 to be matched with a mentor community for non-technical application guidance. The Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring (CCHM) invites proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations to support community heat-monitoring campaigns. The maximum award size is $10,000.
• Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program: Applications due January 13, 2025. Qualified nonprofit organizations are welcome to apply for support to establish community forests through the fee simple acquisition of private forest land that is at least 5 acres in size and under threat of conversion. The maximum grant is $600,000, with a 50% cost-share. Applications must be submitted to the State Forester.
• USDA FY25 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant - Turnkey Program: Applications due January 10, 2025. Organizations can apply for funding to launch new farm to school programs or expand on existing efforts. Applicants may apply to one of three tracks: Action Planning, Agricultural Education, and Edible Gardens. Eligible applicants may include schools and other institutions that operate Child Nutrition Programs, Indian Tribal Organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, non-profit entities, and local agencies. The maximum grant is $50,000 with a 25% cost-share. There are two webinars: November 5 (Introduction to the Request for Applications) and November 6 (Submitting a Complete Grant Package). 
• USDA FY25 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant - Implementation Program: Applications due January 10, 2025. The objective of the FY25 Farm to School Implementation Grant is to improve access to local foods in eligible Child Nutrition Program (CNP) sites through comprehensive farm to school programming that includes both local sourcing and agricultural education efforts. Eligible applicants may include schools and other institutions that operate Child Nutrition Programs, Indian Tribal Organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, non-profit entities, and local agencies. The maximum grant is $500,000 with a 25% cost-share. There are two webinars: November 5 (Introduction to the Request for Applications) and November 6 (Submitting a Complete Grant Package). 
• Rural Business Development Grants: Applications due February 28, 2025. Nonprofit entities serving rural areas may apply for enterprise or opportunity grants that promote the development and expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Grants range from $10,000 to $500,000, and there is no cost-sharing requirement. Check property eligibility.
• FY25 Resilient Maryland Grant: Applications due November 15, 2024. The program helps offset the costs of planning, designing, and constructing microgrids, resilient facility power systems, ​and resiliency hubs. Maryland communities, critical infrastructure entities, businesses, nonprofits, qualifying sole proprietorships, and other organizations that are registered to do business in Maryland and are in good standing may apply. Award ceilings are $12,000 per resiliency hub, $50,000 for resilient facility power systems, and $125,000 for microgrids. Cost-share is at least 20%.
• Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant: Open until November 15, 2024. The Maryland Environmental Trust, together with the MD Department of Transportation and Department of Agriculture, welcome applications from nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and local land trusts, as well as projects on individual private, commercial private, community-owned, nonprofit, and government-owned properties, to support environmental education projects, litter removal, citizen stewardship and to protect natural resources in urban and rural areas. The award ceiling for Community Stewardship grants is $5,000; Capacity Building for Land Trusts is $10,000; and Tree Planting on Agricultural Lands is $50,000.
• Environmental Justice Thriving Community Grantmaking Program – EPA Region 3: Open until November 30, 2024 for 2-year grants; Open until April 30, 2025 for 1-year grants. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Region 3 partner Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), is accepting grant applications across a wide range of environmental justice issues: air and water pollution, food access, stormwater, asbestos, pesticides and toxic substances, healthy and efficient homes, cleanups, climate and health risks, GHG workforce development, training, climate resiliency and adaptation, engagement of disadvantaged groups into federal and state processes, and more. Nonprofits, local and tribal governments and consortia, Native American Organizations, and Institutions of Higher Education may apply. The maximum grant varies by tier: Tier 1 Assessment - $150,000 and 1 year; Tier 2 Planning - $250,000 and 1-2 years; Tier 3 Implementation - $350,000 and 2 years. An in-person informational meeting will be held in Washington, DC on October 22 at 6:30pm. 
• Watershed Assistance Grant Program: Open until December 6, 2024. The Chesapeake Bay Trust welcomes applications from local agencies, nonprofits including faith-based organizations, HOAs, Forestry Board, Higher Education Institutions, and Soil/Water/Resource Conservation Districts and Councils for watershed restoration project designs and permitting and for watershed planning and programmatic development that will improve water quality. Awards range by type, with maximums from $75,000 to $150,000. Cost-share is not required but encouraged. 
• The Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program (GAMTTFP): Open until January 10, 2025. The US Department of Transportation welcomes applications from Local Educational Agencies or State Educational Agencies for projects that promote workforce development in transportation. Projects with a strong equity focus (encouraging women and minorities into STEM) ones that promote understanding of emissions reductions or climate resilience are encouraged. The award ceiling is $300,000, and there is no cost-match required.
• Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee (MUCFC) Grants Program: Applications reviewed on our around February 15 and July 15 annually. Forestry Boards are welcome to apply for assistance with tree planting on public lands or for educational projects about trees in urban environments. The maximum grant is $1,000.
• Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP): Opens in late October 2024 and will remain open for 90 days after publication. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced $210 million in remaining FY 2024 Nonprofit Security Grant Program Supplemental funding. This grant provides funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, that are at high risk of terrorist attack. Learn more and review these four steps to apply for the FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant.
• Addressing Systems Challenges through Engineering Teams: Opened October 10, 2024 and closes January 22, 2025. The National Science Foundation invites proposals from Institutions of Higher Education for engineering research that fuels progress in engineering system applications with high societal impact, including in the domains of healthcare, homeland security, disaster mitigation, telecommunications, energy, environment, transportation, manufacturing, and other systems-related areas. Grant awards will be in the $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 range. See NSF Publication 25-503.
• Transformational Direct Air Capture Technologies and Remove Legacy Carbon Dioxide Program: The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) intends to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity in late 2024 for Direct Air Capture (DAC) developers or commercial facilities. A DOE OCED DAC informational webinar is on October 10, 2024.
• FY25 Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program: Opened October 2, 2024 and closes at 3pm on November 29, 2024. This program is accepting applications to provide funding to partially reimburse Community Solar Subscriber Organizations for installation and operation of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays that make Community Solar Pilots accessible to the Low to Moderate Income (LMI) community. Subscriber Organizations must be registered with the Maryland Public Service Commission (“PSC”). The maximum grant award is $500,000.
• Maryland Solar Access Program Grants for Residential Solar Systems: Opening soon. There is no closing date as it will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. These grants will provide up to $7,500 (at $750/kW) for new household solar PV systems. Eligibility is limited to households with a total income that does not exceed 150% of the statewide area median income. The application requires two phases, including an initial application to reserve funds. Please read the FAQs

For a list of all grant programs from every fiscal year and award winners, visit the Office of Grants Management’s “Grants Program” page.